William j



W. J. KALTZ.

METHOD OF ASSEMBLING SPOKED WHEELS.-

APPLICATION FILED DEC.2. 19m.

- Reissued Feb. 10, 1920. 14,803. I

: UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. KALTZ, OF WINDSOR, ONTARIO, CANADA, ASSIGNOR TO KELSEY WHEELCOMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

METHOD OF ASSEMBLING SPOKED WHEELS.

Specification of Reissued Letters Patent. Rgigsued Feb 1(), 192()Original No. 1,189,827, dated July 4, 1916, Serial No. 868,685, filedOctober 26, 1914. Application for reissue filed December 2, 1916. SerialNo. 134,754.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM 'J. KALTZ, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resident of Windsor, in the Province of Ontario andDominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMethods of Assembling Spoked \Vheels, of which the following is aspecific-anon.

' The invention relates to the manufacture of spoked wheels and moreparticularly wheels designed for use upon motor vehicles. It is theobJeet of the invention to simplify the assembly of uch wheels,dispensing with v a. number of operations heretofore deemed necessary.

The apparatus herein described and 1llu strated for carrying out mynovel process is made the subject-matter of my co-pending application,Serial No. 868,686, filedv October 26, 1914.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical central section through aid apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the felly sections with the spokes inengagement therewith before assembly with the rim;

Fig. 3 is a section through the wheel after en agement with the rim;

ig. 4 is a cross-section showing the manner of initially supporting thefolly sections; and

Fig. 5 is a cross-section showing the stop for centering the rim withthe felly.

In the present state of the art, wheels for motor vehicles are usuallyformed of a pair of wooden semi-circular felly sections having spokesengaged therewith, said sections bem held together by a continuousmetallic rim 1nto which they are pressed. The usual method of assemblingis, first, to place the 'two sections in a clampmg machine, where radialpressure is applied to the felly opposite each of the spokes, forcingthe inner ends of said spokes in close proximity. A false hub is thenbolted to the inner ends of the spokes, after which the sections areremoved from the press and are placed in a lathe for trimming theperiphery of the felly to a true circle. The next operation is thecompressing of the clamped sections into the metallic rim, after whichthe false hub is removed.

Where the above-described method is emthe assembly of each wheel.

ployed it is necessary to provide sufficient surplus stock in the fellysections for the trimming operation. Furthermore when the radialpressure is relieved from the felly there is a tendency for the latterto spring away from the spokes, so that when mounted in the rim all ofthe spokes are not under equal compression. A further disadvantage ofthe method is that it requires a number of distinct operations inseparate machines for \Vith my improved method I overcome theseobjections by pressing the felly sections with the spokes in engagementtherewith directly into the metallic rim, thereby avoiding the necessityfor the surplus stock in the felly, as well as cutting out severaloperations.

As shown, A represents the bed of a press and B the reciprocatoryplunger: 0 is an annular member mounted upon the bed and having atapering or conical cross section, the upper end of which is ofsufficient size to receive the felly blanks, while the lower end is of adiameter substantially corresponding with that of the metallic wheelrim. The member C is cut away below its tapered portion so as to permitof the lateral insertion of the wheel rim D, as shown in Fig. 1, andsuitable means, such as the stop E, is provided for properly centeringthis rim with the member C. F is a follower plate of a diametersuflicient to bear against the felly sections but slightly less than theminimum diameter of the member C. G are pins or other guide devicesdepending from the follower F and adapted to engage one spoke of eachfelly section to properly guide the same. G is a stop upon the bed Aserving to limit downward motion of the folly sections;

To assemble a wheel, the operator first places a pair of complementaryfelly sections H I having the spokes J in engage tions H I, forcing themdown in the tapering or conical portion of the member C. This will placea radial pressure upon each of the spokes and will also bend the fellyinto a true circular form and reduce it to a diameter exactlycorresponding to the rim. The rim D before being placed in the machineis preferably heated to a suitable temperature for properly expanding itso that after the felly sections are pressed into engagement therewiththe contraction of the metal will cause a firm clamping engagement.Furthermore, the heated metal is more pliable and consequently if thereis any irregularity or departure from the true circle the felly, whichhas been contracted to a true circular form, on being forced into therim will cause the latter to assume a corresponding form.

For initlally supporting the felly sections yieldable dogs K arearranged in recesses in the ring C, as shown in Fig. 4.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. The method of assembling spoked wheels, comprising the placingtogether of complementary spoked felly sections, and forcm said sectionsthrough a tapering guide mto the wheel rim.

2. The method of assembling spoked wheels, comprising the placingtogether of complementary spoked fell sections, forcing said sectionslaterally tl uough a taperannulus into engagement with the wheel 3. Themethod of assembling spoked wheels, comprising the placing together ofcomplementary spoked telly sections, forcing said sections laterallythrough a tapering annulus into engagement with the whee rim, andguiding one of the spokes during bling spoked wheels, comprising theplacing together of complementary felly sections of finished size andhaving the spokes in engagement therewith, circumferentially contractingsaid felly sections to a predetermined diameter, and pressing the sameout of engagement with the contracting means and into a rim ofcorresponding diameter.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

WM. J. KALTZ.

